Cleaning attachment for type-writers.



No. 688,133. v Patented Dec. 3, I901. A. F. SPARKS.

CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOB TYPE WRITERS.

(Application filed Aug. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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435 I V m n. a. a. THE NDRRIS PETER? 50.. PHOTDJJTHQ. WASM'NGTO TE TATES FFICEQ ALFRED F. SPARKS, OF KNOXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,133, dated December 3, 1901- Application filed August 9, 1901.

Serial No. 71,442. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED F. SPARKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Cleaning Attachments for Type WVriters, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein has for its object the provision of means on a type-writing machine for supporting the type while being cleaned; and it is a further object of the invention to provide a basin adjacent to the type-support for holdinga cleaning liquid and collecting any dirt removed from the type.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan View of a ribbon-supportin g plate having my improved type-support arranged thereon. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the same on a plane indicated by the line II II, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale, the plane of section being indicated by the line III III, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is an under side plan of my preferred form of typesupport. 1

In the practice of my invention I employ a type support, such as an open socket or sleeve 1, into which a type is thrust when raised by striking on a key to a position accessible for cleaning. This support or socket is so constructed as to bear against the sides of the type when raised, and thereby support the same as against lateral movement while applying a brush to remove the dirt from the recesses in the type. While I consider it within the scope of my invention to secure this socket to any desirable or convenient portion of a machine in such manner that it can be removed, if necessary, it is preferred when applying the invention to machines of the Remington type to secure the socket to the ribbon-supporting plate 2, as clearly shown in the drawings.

A convenient construction or form of my improvement adapted to be secured to the ribbon-plate consists in striking up the socket in a metal plate 3, so that the edges or walls of the socket will project up above the level of adjacent portions of the plate, as clearly shown in Figs. 2and 3. While thesupportingplate 3 in which the socket is formed may be secured to the ribbon-plate 2 in any convenient manner, it is preferred to provide guideways 4 for the reception of the edges of the notch or recess formed in the ribbon-plate, so that the support or holder can be placed in position by simplyslidiug the plate 3 into the recess or notch in the ribbon-plate. In order to form a receptacle around the type-socket l for the reception of a cleaning fluid or to catch any dirt which may be brushed off the type,

a portion of the plate 3 around the socket is depressed, forming a basin 5, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for the reception of benzin or any other cleaning liquid. The basin 5 and the walls of the socket are so proportioned as to height and depth that the face of the type will when the latter is raised into the socket be on a level with or slightly above the surface of the plate 3, as shown in Fig. 3. When a basin or receptacle is formed in the plate 3, the guide-ways t are preferably formed along two edges of the vertical walls of such basin, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to remove the ribbon out of the way when cleaning the type, a pin or other projection 6 is provided, which, extending below the surface of the plate, will strike against the ribbon and push it to one side when the plate 3 is slipped onto the ribbon-plate. The type-support is so constructed and supported with relation to the path of movement of the type that when a key is struck a type will be forced up into the socket, where it will be held by continued pressure on the key while the cleaning is being effected. It is preferred that the sheet 3 be made of such dimensions as to entirely cover the portions of the ribbon-plate 2 adjacent to the notch in the latter, so as to protect the ribbon-plate from dirt while the type are being cleaned.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. An attachment for type-writers, consisting of a type-support and means for attaching the socket for aifording lateral support for the type on all sides to a portion of the machine in the path of movement of the type, substantially as set forth.

2. An attachment for type-writers, having in combination a type-support, a basin surrounding the support and means for attach ing the support to a portion of the machine in the path of movement of the type, substantially as set forth.

3. An attachment for type-Writers, having in combination a basin, an open socket or sleeve formed in said basin and guideways for the reception of supporting portions of the type-Writer, substantially as set forth.

4.-. An attachment for type-Writers, having in combination, a basin, an open socket or sleeve formed in said basin, guideways for the reception of supporting portions of the typewriter and a pin or projection adapted to push the ribbon aside when the attachment 1 is placedin position,snbstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' ALFRED F. SPARKS.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLooTT, I F. E. GAITHER. 

